Showcasing the best bites in Austin!

sandwiches

I LOVEEEE a good sandwich that has me craving the same one over and over again. Growing up, I would make the same sandwich to take for lunch at school EVERY DAY for a year – and then, I’d get sick of it (after eating it every day for a year) and switch to another. I’m so weird right? One year it was turkey and pepperjack cheese. Another year it was smoked ham and cheddar. Another year it was cracked pepper turkey and pepperjack. Point is, me and sandwiches go wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back!

So here are the spots that I love to enjoy a good ole sammie at the moment – the list can AND WILL change given my mood 🙂 My favorite embedded Vessel map below has pictures by location, so check it out for the full scoop and mouthwatering pics/videos!

Little Deli & Pizzeria

Hello hidden gem of a pizza and sandwich shop in the Crestview neighborhood! Why the heck didn’t I go here sooner? We showed up at a random time on a Saturday – random meaning not lunch or dinner time but right smack in between aka 3PM-ish. They were packed! Kids, dogs, adults sitting outside and ordering inside…I mean, the weather that day was epic so I can’t blame people for hanging, but woah, I was shocked!

Loved the Italian Sub and the Chicken Salad so much and we’re heading back soon for some ‘za!

Otherside Deli

When this hot spot opened up off W. 34th Street, it became the talk of the town! Quite literally, my Instagram feed blew up with pictures of their reuben and pastrami sandwiches.

Being married to one of the biggest pastrami lovers I know, I made it my mission to take the Hubs there. In fact, I love him so much that I took him there for his birthday weekend 🙂

I ordered the Otherside Italian for myself and hubs got the Otherside (with Pastrami), and I quote him “This is the best pastrami I’ve ever eaten.” So there folks…I’m not sure why you aren’t headed there as you’re reading this!

My Italian sandwich was one of the best I’ve had as well. Love their house vinegar that they add to it. And pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee don’t leave without ordering a chocolate chip cookie with sea salt sprinkled on top – best cookies in Austin post coming soon, FYI!

Carpenter’s Hall

I’m quite literally obsessed with the new Carpenter Hotel. Have you been? From delish golden lattes, to super amazing pastries, to incredible BRUNCH, LUNCH, DINNER AND LATE NIGHT, you will not go wrong here. They’re open to the public so you don’t have to actually stay there to enjoy their food.

I’ve tried a heck of a lot of food there and I can’t tell you if there is one thing that is my favorite. I’d eat everything I’ve eaten again and again!

Their sourdough bread is quite beautiful and perfectly prepared. A friend of mine had the Roast Beef Sandwich and really enjoyed it. Hubs got the Reuben – TALK ABOUT STACKED! Too big to hold both halves in one hand for a pic, y’all. Also, too dang delicious to not finish on the spot 🙂

Austin Daily Press

This favorite Eastside spot of mine has shown up in a couple of my blog posts for many reasons. 1) epic sandwiches 2) 2 locations within 2 miles of my house 3) JALAPENO HUSHPUPPIES 4) lots of veggie options for those days you need to eat veggies but you don’t feel like eating a dinky salad.

Their bread for the Tortas is incredible. Made by Bellows Bakery, the rolls are freaking delish – like you could eat them on their own – but whyyyyy do that when you can eat a delish roll stuffed with all the goodness?

A couple of my faves happen to be their veggie options – Caul Me and Mad Beets. I equally love the Lucille (think banh mi sandwich) and the Charlie (flank steak).

ALWAYS pair your sandwich with an order of jalapeno hushpuppies. If you don’t, I will disown you – NOT JOKING!

Walton’s Fancy & Staple

I’m kind of jealous of people who live in walking distance of Walton’s. I’d be there all the time if I lived close or worked nearby. Parking isn’t the easiest given all the construction on W. 6th these days. However, if you’re in the area, please drop in and eat EVERYTHING!

They’ve got a Fancy Lunch option that is my go-to – half of a Ham on Pretzel and a Cesar Salad. Their pretzel roll with Ham is the perfect combo! Treat yourself afterwards (or before, I won’t judge) to a macaron or cake or a latte!

Loro

When two well-known Chefs/Restaurant Owners collaborate and open a restaurant together, YOU GO! Chef Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin combined their genius skills to create Loro. Think Asian Smokehouse when you go and plan to be pleased as heck.

Ok, so I think my favorite sandwich is one that has Turkey in it. And remember, hubs loves a good Reuben.

Enter Loro’s TURKEY REUBEN. It’s heavenly…you’ve got to try it and prove otherwise. The turkey is perfectly smoked. The sandwich is perfectly toasted. It can’t get any tastier…

Biderman’s Deli

With two locations in Austin, you’re not too far from enjoying one of the best sandwiches in ATX. I stopped by the downtown location recently and ordered the Turkey & Swiss (surprise surprise)! I had to eat the sandwich in 2 sittings because that’s how huge it was! So so good…their bread, the turkey…the swiss. Gah!

And they now use Rosen’s Bagels for their bagels so EPIC AND INCREDIBLE BAGELS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR DEVOURING at breakfast too!

Uncle Nicky’s

The ultimate collab of Via313, Nickle City and Juniper, Uncle Nicky’s is the best of Italian sandwiches, pastries, Negronis all packed into the cutest Hyde Park neighborhood spot.

We went for a late dinner on a cold wintery day in the ATX, so it was quite crowded inside. They’ve got a cute patio but come on, it was too cold to sit out there the night we dropped in.

A counter-service spot, we ordered the Italian Tuna and Hots Sandwich, Classico Pane Tostato and the PB&J Pane Tostato.

Wowzasssssssssssssssssssssss….speechless, friends! Everything was so so good. The pane tostatos are small so get a few if you’re hungry. But they’re absolutely divine. The sandwich was substantial and LEGIT!

I’ll be going back in for lunch ASAP so I can get my hands on some of their Cruellers, donuts, ham & eggs!

Easy Tiger

No sandwich list is complete with including Easy Tiger. Afterall, they make most of the bread that restaurants use for their own sandwiches!

With 3 locations in Austin – Linc, E. 6th and Cedar Park – they’ve pretty much got the city covered.

Any guesses what sandwich I love and get every time? Come on now…you know me! If you guessed Smoked Turkey, you’re the WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER! I just can’t get enough of that avocado chimichurri and those pretty watermelon radishes inside.

You know I was born and raised in wayyyyyyyyyy south Louisiana right? If you didn’t, now you do! I’m pretty sure I was the first of Indian descent kiddo born in lil ole Thibodaux, LA.

Growing up there, we had crawfish boils all the time. I mean, as soon as it was crawfish catching time, our neighbors would have us all over for the most epic boils. <drooling about those potatoes and corn in the boil right now>

A bunch of us food bloggers were treated to a new take on a traditional seafood boil as well as tons of other really yummy and approachable Texas Comfort Food at the newly opened TLC Austin at Lamar Union last weekend! #media

The space is family-friendly, large, full of TV’s, a gameroom, and a beer hall feel (they’ve got 30 beers on draught) and their cocktails are creative and spot on! Not to mention the food was ridiculously good and super fresh.

Need a place to watch the Super Bowl? TLC should be your spot!

Nomsssss

We started with a tower of oysters and shrimp cocktail. Sorry y’all, I was unable to get a picture but these were SO GOOD and fresh! The shrimp cocktail was really really good and usually I steer clear of them and lean towards the fried stuff.

We were served tons of apps for the table:

Hushpuppies with crawfish etouffe dipping sauce!

Deviled Eggs with bbq yumminess on top!

Fried Okra – I liked them lengthwise!

Oysters Rockefeller – woah, I’d eat that spinach base ALL DAY!

Then the Main Courses started coming out and we got full real quick from all the absolutely delicious sandwiches and chicken fried steak!

They’re large and affordable (in my opinion):

The Enlightenment – all the veggies in this one and that bread is perfectly toasted!

Pork tasso with a pretty egg on top!

Fried Green Tomato BLT – SAY WHATTTTTTTT?!?!

DKR – roast beef sandwich – you must dip it into the tastiest au jus!

The hubs said this was his favorite Chicken Fried Steak ever! And those mashed potatoes and brussels were a really nice addition!

And last but not least, the boiled seafood with amazing cajun spices came out:

Snow Crab, King Crab, Shrimp and P.E.I. Mussels – and don’t forget about those potatoes, corn and BUTTER!

They have an entire portion of the menu dedicated to The Boil – pick your seafood, pick your spices and pick your sauce. I personally love Texas Heat and Cajun Spice and all the lemon garlic butter! But that’s just my cajun roots coming out 🙂

No meal is really complete (although you may not have room in your tummy for anything else), without some dessert. And in my world, CHOCOLATE!

All in all, this is quite the hang out for watching a game or two, nomming on some really delicious food and drinking a bev! The kids will love it too as there are indoor and outdoor games for them to enjoy while you get in some adult time!

About

Shveta Moller is a Food Blogger based out of Austin, TX, and runs the popular Instagram account @atx_bites.
She also curates @top_austin_restaurants of the #topcitybites group. She's Social Chair of the Austin Food Blogger's Alliance @atxfoodblogs, an Ambassador of Vessel @Vessel.Edit, and an Influencer for Foodie Tribe @FoodieTribe.
Shveta is passionate about all things food, health, and wellness, and is an IIN Certified Integrative Nutrition Coach, as well.
When she's not working or foodstagramming, you can find Shveta at a live music show around town, picking fresh veggies from her backyard garden or the local farmer's market, or sipping on a golden latte or matcha at one of her favorite coffee shops!
Headshot Photo Credit: Paige Newton Photography